MRSA Superbug

The superbug is also known as MRSA, which stands for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus. It is a type of bacteria that is responsible for infections that are very difficult to treat in humans. This is because this bacteria has developed the ability to survive the treatment of such antibiotics as penicillin, methicillin and cephalosporin.

Those people who are the most susceptible to this superbug are those that are in the hospital or in a health care facility and have a weakened immune system or are using an invasive device. However, people who have an open wound, infection, abscess, boil or other type of puss-filled lesion are also susceptible to this illness. Some of the other symptoms of MRSA include cellulitis, pneumonia, fever, chills, low blood pressure, joint pain, severe headache, shortness of breath, a rash over the entire body and even death.

While Staphylococcus Aureus, sometimes simply referred to as “staph,” is a common bacterium that is found on healthy people's skin or in their nose, it can get into the body through breaks in the skin and then cause an infection. This infection will range anywhere from boils or pimples to pneumonia and blood infections. These infections are resistant to penicillin because staph can make a substance that is known as B-Lactamase, which is pronounced as beta-lactamase. Beta-lactamase is able to destroy the antibacterial activity of penicillin.

Most recently, there has been a news strain of MRSA identified by scientists. This strain is resistant to most of the treatments that had previously worked. Investigators are finding that the infections that are resulting from this new strain of the superbug are primarily linked to high-risk behaviors. These behaviors include such things as drug use, sex with multiple partners and a history of sexually transmitted diseases.

Regardless of which type of MRSA Superbug you get, transmission is always the same: via close skin-to-skin contact with an infected individual, poor personal hygiene, contact with contaminated surfaces or objects, and crowded living conditions. If you want to be able to protect yourself from this illness, you will need to take the following steps:

  1. Wash your hands properly. This means spending at least 20 seconds using warm water and soap. If you cannot wash your hands as you should, then at least make sure that you use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  2. Make sure that you keep any cut or scrape covered with a band aid until it is completely healed. You also need to avoid contacting other people with this wound.
  3. You should never share personal items such as a towel or a razor.

MRSA Superbug Symptoms

Understand the Symptoms Of MRSA Superbug.